Incident Update: The iconic Captain Cook statue in Randwick, Sydney, was vandalized overnight, with red paint splashed on it and its nose and hand broken off. This marks the second incident of vandalism in the past year. The timing is significant, just days before Australia Day celebrations.
Significance: This act of vandalism highlights simmering cultural tensions, particularly among the Indigenous community, where 4% of Australia's population view January 26 as Invasion Day. Recent polls indicate a growing majority, 61%, in favor of retaining the current date for celebrations.